Hale County game warden concerned about sudden spate of poaching

Published 6:00 pm, Thursday, November 26, 2009

Hale County Game Warden Mark Collins had a haggard look on his face as he assessed the upcoming pheasant season . . . and for good reason.

Not only was Collins busy with his normal daily activity of patrolling the hunting grounds in Hale and Floyd counties, he was up to his eyebrows in a recent onslaught of poaching.

"Right now, I’m working on five separate, significant poaching cases. That’s a bunch," he said, adding that other game wardens across the area are experiencing the same thing, and there doesn’t seem to be a reason for it.

"I’m not the only game warden having problems with this," he said. "We’ve never experienced things like what’s going on right now."

Collins said there are some violations in Hale County, but most of the cases he is working are in Floyd County.

The first thing he pointed out, and something he wanted to make very clear, is that there are no situations under which people can legally kill deer in Hale County.

"There is not a deer season (in the county) and, no, you cannot legally kill a deer in Hale County," he said.

The thing that most frustrates the game warden is the senselessness of what he is seeing.

Because of the dry weather the region has experienced over the past several months, he said, deer are congregating in irrigated wheat fields since that is the only good forage they can find, he said.

"It is presenting a terrible temptation, apparently, to some folks," he said.

The problems started in October, and it has been puzzling to Collins and his colleagues.

"I expect some (poaching each year), but not nearly the volume I’m getting," he said.

He went on to talk about the disturbing pattern he has seen.

"Here’s what’s irritating. They’re shooting ’em and letting ’em lay. They’re not taking ’em for meat. You don’t go out and knock deer down and take the best one.

"I don’t know why this is going on."

Collins wants to make one thing clear.

"These are not hunters. They are poachers and outlaws," he said emphatically.

He then appealed to hunters and other responsible citizens for help.

"I’ve gotten some help from citizens," he said, adding that he could use more assistance.

"Somebody knows these folks. I just encourage people, when you see these things going on, please get involved," he said.

Collins said anyone with information about illegal activity can contact the local sheriff’s office or call him directly at 806-773-3273. All information will remain confidential, he said.

Also, he said, Operation Game Thief can be contacted at 1-800-792-4263.

Operation Game Thief is the equivalent of Crime Stoppers for wildlife violations and offers rewards of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those committing wildlife crimes.